Improvement in wash-boards



THOMAS M. WEBB, OF NORWALK, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO LESTER T.

EARBAND, OF SAME PLACE. Y

IMPROVEMENT IN WASH-BOARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,912` dated January 30, 1877; application filed December 4, 1876.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. WEBB, of Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wash-Boards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention is in wash-boards, and is designed to furnish an article which will present a friction-surface especially adapted as a rubbing-plate; my object being to make the working-face of the sheet-metal plate corrugated by projections, which are at right angles to the main transverse ribs, and alternate in a longitudinal series of triangularshaped bosses, part of which are formed with wider bases and side at an angle more acute than the others.

l preferably manufacture the sheet with the obtuse triangular or acorn-shaped projections on the upper side of the transverse ribs, and the more acute triangular projections intermediate each of the acorn-shaped ones, as this causes the article being washed to receive a larger friction presentment on the downward wash, while in the return movement -the fold or crease of the cloth iirst formed. and which is that part rubbed by the acorn-shaped projections, will be divided and changed in the upwardwash to a smaller fold, and a different part of the cloth will receive the friction-action of the smaller or acute triangular projections. It will be observed that, inasmuch as th sides or bounding-faces of either of the alternate series of longitudinal bosses constitute the working or active part of the latter, and give that frictional bearing to the fabric passed over the board, which thoroughly cleanses I the same in the suds, it is hence desirable that the cloth thus subjected lshall have different parts exposed to such an action.

Figure l is a perspective view of the washboar'd in an inverted position. Fig. 2 ris a perspective View of the same when in position for use. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, and

Fig. 4 a transverse section, of a wash-board made according to my invention, in which any usual kind of frame, A, may be usedwhich mounts the wash-board plate B.

This plate is of any suitable metal, though I preferably use sheet-zinc, and it is formed with the main cross-ribs C, upon whose two faces, to either side of the central line constituting the summit `of the rib, are embossed the raised figures, which form the essence of my invention.

The prominent figures on the upper or top side of each main corrugation, and which I letter D, are obtusely triangular in form, having their bases in the grooves intervening between the ribs, and coming to a blunt apex at the summit of each respective transverse corrugation, so that they present an appearance not unlike the shape of a thumb-nail, or, more nearly, an acorn-nut. The raised figures alternating with these latter, and formed on the lower or bottom face of each of the main transverse corrugations, are of less surfacearea. These are lettered E, and are more geometrically triangular in form. The base of each is contiguous to the base 0f the tigure D, on the opposite face of the transverse cor,

rugation, next below that upon which the ligure E is formed. The apex ofthis acute projection E unites with the corresponding part of the obtuse projection D on the ridge of each respective transverse corrugation (l,

land thus forms the narrow raised projection o, running parallel to the length of the board. Longitudinal series of these latter projections c are hence made in any number upon the face of the wash-board plate, and the size of the same, either greater or less, in cross-dimension, will determine the number of the series, and it is apparent that the size ot' the projections on either side of the transverse corrugations may be different in different boards, and, accordingly, as fine or coarse and heavy fabrics are to be washed.

It is observed that each transverse corrugation has thus embossed or stamped upon it a three-part figure, which, upon opposite sides of the corrugation is, respectively, acornshaped and triangular in form, and intermediate the two the narrow longitudinal rib or embossment, formed upon the ridge ot the transverse corrugation, and which constitutes the common or union face figures.

It desired, these two side projections C and D maybe relatively interchanged, so that the downward wash may rub the cloth prominent- 1y over the more acute triangular figure, and thus reverse the frictional surface presented, as first described.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The acorn-shaped projections formed ou the upper face of the main transverse corrugations ot' a wash-board, substantially as described. 2. The triangular figures embossed on the lower face of the transverse corrugations,

point of the two side-- von opposite faces of transverse corrugations,

substantially as described.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day ot' November, 1876.

THOMAS M. -WEBB. Witnesses: f

A. B. GRIFFIN,

J A. WILLIAMSON. 

